Troubleshooting Trailer Brakes Not Working

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Question:

I have break lights….signals but no trailer breaks

asked by: Johnathan

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Expert Reply:

There could be a number of different issues causing your trailer brakes to not work. I would start by checking the 7-way connection on your vehicle. Make sure there is no debris, corrosion, or damage. From there, use a circuit tester like the # PTW2993 to check for power on the brake output pin. Make sure you are using the manual override on the brake controller, pressing the brakes when not in motion won't work with a proportional controller. This will help you determine if it is on the vehicle side or trailer side.

If it is in the trailer side, start by checking the trailer connector. From there, check the brake output wire for a short running back to the brakes. You can also check the ground connection to make sure it is secure.

If it is on the vehicle side, go ahead and move to the brake controller and test the brake output wire. If you still don't have power then something is wrong with your brake controller. Double check the connections and make sure the wiring isn't damaged. If you have power here then it is likely a short in the wire. You can find it and repair the short, or run new wire with # 10-1-1.

expert reply by: Robin H

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Answer 1

There are a number of reasons why the brakes on your trailer may not be working. Lets start with the easiest things to check. First, check the vehicle and trailer connectors for corrosion. This can cause a short inside the connector and the brake…

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Answer 2

Even though I cannot comment specifically on the grease you used because I am not familiar with it, I can tell you the best grease for trailer bearings is a a grease with a rating of GC-LB, which just means it is made to withstand very high…

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Answer 3

In order to determine the torque rating for the lug nuts on your trailer you will need to know check out the chart I attached that shows all of the torque specs for all the trailer lugs available based on stud size, wheel material and wheel size.

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Answer 4

Trailer wheel bearings are specific to the spindle that is installed on the axle that is on your trailer. You will need to safely support the trailer, remove the wheel and tire, remove the grease cap, remove the cotter pin and washer that secures the…

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Answer 5

To determine the size of the brake assemblies you need you have to measure the depth and width of the hub drum on the axle like what you see in the picture I attached. The most common size is 2-1/4 inch wide like the #T4071600-500 that you…

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Answer 6

I currently have three diffrent self-adjusting assemblies for your boat trailer with 10" x 2-1/4" electric drum brakes which are attached for you below. eTrailer Electric Trailer Brake Kit part #AKEBRK-35-SA (3,500 Axles) Dexter…

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Answer 7

The difference between the Class II and Class III hitches has to do with their Gross Trailer Weight (GTW), their Tongue Weight (TW), and their Hitch Receiver Size. Class II trailer hitch receivers have a 1-1/4 inch receiver and can be rated up to…

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Answer 8

That's a very good question, we tend to be extra cautious and say to use 10 gauge wire because that would be more than enough. When you get into longer trailers that will end up using a lot of wire the heavier gauge wire becomes more necessary.…

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Answer 9

The three most common lug stud sizes for a trailer are 1/2"-20, 9/16"-18, and 5/8"-18. In order to make sure you get the correct lug nuts you need to measure the lug studs on the trailer now as we have no way to look this up for…

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Answer 10

Hey Robert, yes the Kodiak disc brake calipers part #KDBC225DAC that you referenced will replace the Tie Down calipers you have now 46304, they can be used as a left or right hand caliper and does come with ceramic brake pads. If you ever needed…

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Answer 11

There typically aren't any part numbers stamped onto the trailer spindle that can be used for identification. There are however numbers stamped onto the hub most times which can be used for identification. The TDE46210 tells me you have a 3,500…

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Answer 12

The BTR and BT8 denotations refer to the spindle, not the trailer hub. The difference between a BTR and BT8 spindle is that the BTR spindle uses a 1.063" diameter L44649 bearing and the BT8 spindle uses a 0.99" diameter L44643 bearing. In…

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Troubleshooting Trailer Brakes Not Working

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